Former Blues turn out in charity game for brave Joe Thompson

A number of former Carlisle United figures were among those involved in a special charity game for ex-Blues man Joe Thompson.

The goalsforcure game at Rochdale saw a host of ex-players and celebrities turn out for Thompson, who is fighting cancer for the third time.

Former United defender Michael Raynes, ex-Blues goalkeeping star Keiren Westwood, one-time Blues loan striker Jermaine Beckford and former Carlisle keeper and coach Dan Hanford were involved in the game at the Crown Oil Arena.

The Celebrity All Stars XI was also managed by ex-Brunton Park boss Keith Curle.

Thompson, joined by his ex-Dale boss Keith Hill, was in charge of the Joe Thompson XI as players and fans gathered in a show of strength for the former player who last month revealed he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma for a third time.

The former Workington Reds loan man Joe Bunney was among the players to feature in the fundraising game for Thompson, with others including Papiss Cisse, Danny Webber, Paul McShane, Fraizer Campbell, Stephen Ireland, Phil Bardsley, Carl Ikeme, Paul Rachubka, Glenn Whelan, Alex Bruce, Chris Eagles and Adrian Mariappa.

Thompson is undergoing treatment again for cancer having confirmed the heartbreaking news last month that the disease had returned.

Posting on X he said: "It's true I have cancer for the third time. But we’ve walked through darkness as a family before and we will do it again!"

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Thompsons in his latest fight. To donate click HERE.

"Anything received is with heart full of gratitude," he added.

In an interview with BBC Manchester, Thompson said the cancer had returned aggressively, at stage 4, and said it had gone onto his lungs.

He spoke of his determination to fight the disease again, with all the support possible.

"You've only got a certain amount of time on this earth, and I always think you want to make the biggest impact you can possibly do on as many lives as possible.

"I've got to lead from front. I am gonna need cavalry, and I'm ready for them to rise up and we'll just get through it again - and then we'll look at the future."

Thompson made 17 appearances for Carlisle under Keith Curle in 2015/16 and a goal against Plymouth Argyle for the Blues was his first since returning from cancer the first time.

He is best known for his spells with Rochdale, the second of which saw him score a fairytale goal against Charlton Athletic to keep Dale in League One on the last day of the 2017/18 season following his return from illness.

Having started as a youth player with Manchester United, he also played for Tranmere Rovers, Bury, Wrexham and Southport.

He had treatment for the disease first in 2013 and again in 2017, making an inspirational comeback on the pitch before he retired in 2019.